Ministers and civil servants to take 10% pay cut

Cabinet ministers and ministers of state are to have their salaries cut by 10 per cent as part of the budgetary cutbacks, announced today by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan.

Mr Lenihan said officers at secretary-general level in Government departments have also volunteered to make “a corresponding surrender” in respect of their pay.

In July, the Government announced that minister and other senior public servants would forgo pending pay increases recommended by the review body on higher remuneration.

In his Budget speech to the Dáil, Mr Lenihan said: “Other public servants in leadership and senior positions may wish to consider whether it is appropriate for them to make a similar move in current circumstances.”